Traditional Braces – Fort Lauderdale, FL
A Tried-and-True Way to Achieve a Straighter Smile
If you were to ask adults who are in their 30s, 40s, or 50s what kind of braces they wore when they were younger, most would say regular metal brackets and wires. This is because traditional orthodontics have been around for decades. As the most tried-and-true way to achieve a straighter smile, doctors rely on them to treat even the most complex cases of misalignment. Call our office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Quintanal to discuss your eligibility for treatment with traditional braces in Fort Lauderdale.
Why Choose Oceanside Orthodontics for Traditional Braces?
- Board-Certified Orthodontist
- Personalized, One-on-One Treatment
- 0% Interest In-House Financing Available
How Do Traditional Braces Work?
Consisting of metal brackets that are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth as well as a metal archwire that is held in place with elastic bands and threaded through the brackets, these braces work to move your teeth and underlying bone over time.
With regular follow-up appointments every few weeks, your doctor will tighten the wire or replace it with a different size archwire to keep your smile moving in the right direction at the appropriate pace.
Based on the status of your dental issue at the start of treatment, you can expect to wear your braces, on average, for 1-2 years.
What Orthodontic Issues Can Braces Fix?
One of the biggest perks of traditional braces is that they can effectively address a wide range of orthodontic problems, including more severe ones. Here are a few examples:
Bite Misalignment
Do your teeth not come together evenly when you bite down? Do your lower teeth sit in front of your upper teeth? If so, you should come in for a consultation with our dedicated orthodontist in Fort Lauderdale. That way, we can assess the complexity of your case, review the available treatment options, and create a custom treatment plan that will align your teeth and your bite.
Crowded & Crooked Teeth
If your teeth crowd together or are tilted out of alignment, you should come in for the necessary orthodontic care before the look, health, and function of your smile are negatively impacted. If you’re a candidate for traditional braces, then we will continuously apply just enough pressure to guide your teeth into their properly aligned positions comfortably.
Gapped Teeth
Gaps between your teeth can create problems when it comes to the health and function of your smile, which is why we encourage patients with this orthodontic issue to come in for an appointment even if they don’t mind the aesthetic drawbacks. Our goal is to bring your teeth into proper alignment before you experience any trouble with your chewing or speaking patterns.
Caring for Your Braces
Just like you need to care for your teeth, you need to care for your braces. Here are a few habits we recommend adopting:
- Brushing your teeth (and braces) after each meal
- Flossing and rinsing with mouthwash regularly
- Sticking to the dietary restrictions
- Quitting unhealthy habits, like biting your nails
- Getting a dental checkup and teeth cleaning biannually
- Prioritizing your check-in visits
Benefits of Traditional Braces
When wearing traditional braces, you will find that this proven method of orthodontic treatment presents many great advantages. Once your teeth are better aligned, you can expect to experience:
- A smile that is free of overcrowding, gaps, and crooked teeth.
- Improved oral and overall health by reducing the risk of chronic jaw pain and worn-down tooth enamel caused by misalignment.
- Improved eating and speaking habits.
- A reduced risk of tooth decay and gum disease because you will be able to brush and floss with greater ease.
- Greater confidence in your appearance.
What Are Self-Ligating Braces?
Self-ligating braces are similar to traditional braces but instead of relying on elastics to hold the archwire in place, they consist of a built-in system that uses brackets or clips that function as a gate that can be opened and closed.
There are two types of mechanisms used with self-ligating braces: active and passive brackets. The former uses a sliding spring clip that presses against the archwire, while the latter requires a sliding mechanism that doesn’t apply pressure or force.
Choosing self-ligating braces is a great option if you want to avoid multiple dental appointments and desire to maintain better oral health throughout treatment. Also, if you would rather avoid colored elastics while wearing braces, this option can be a desirable choice.
How Much Do Traditional Braces Cost?
Traditional braces in Fort Lauderdale are one of the most reliable methods of straightening teeth and addressing bite problems, regardless of the severity of your orthodontic concerns. However, many patients are worried about the price tag attached to treatment. Our team at Oceanside Orthodontics will provide you with a detailed cost estimate and speak with you about your dental insurance benefits, helping minimize your out-of-pocket costs.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces
There are a number of factors that can play into the cost of you or your teen’s orthodontic treatment. Some of these details include:
- How severe your orthodontic misalignment is. For example, more serious bite problems will take longer to fix than minor misalignment.
- If one or both of your arches of teeth need to be treated. In some cases, only one row of teeth may need braces.
- If you require additional accessories, like elastics, headgear, space maintainers, etc.
Based on Dr. Quintanal’s initial examination of your teeth and gums, we will help iron out these details with you or your teen so you know what to expect. That way, if you have any questions, we can answer them right then and there!
Traditional Braces vs. Clear Aligners: Which Costs More?
Many people wonder if traditional braces are more expensive than clear aligners because of the materials used. The answer is that both of these treatments are comparable in price. However, some patients who have more serious orthodontic concerns, like bite misalignment, may not be an excellent candidate for clear aligners. Because traditional braces can be more effective in these situations, they can end up being less costly than aligners.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces?
It’s important to keep in mind that every dental insurance plan varies between patients. Some may include coverage for orthodontic treatment, while others may not. Our team can help confirm your available benefits with your insurance plan to maximize your savings. We’re also in-network with multiple PPO plans, helping extend your savings even further.
Options for Making Braces More Affordable
In addition to accepting and maximizing dental insurance, we also offer no-interest in-house financing and flexible down-payment plans. Our team wants you or your teen to have a great orthodontic experience, and we believe we’re the best people to make that happen. As such, we’re happy to work with you in any way we can to make the cost of braces in Fort Lauderdale fit within your budget.
Traditional Braces FAQs
What foods should I avoid with metal braces?
For the first few days after getting braces, your mouth will be sore and likely tender, making it uncomfortable and difficult to chew certain foods. Because of this, it’s recommended that you stick to a soft diet for the first several days, eating snacks like yogurts, smoothies, mashed potatoes, and soup. This adjustment period can last for up to a couple of weeks as you’re becoming more comfortable and used to your brackets and wires.
Even after you adjust to your braces, you’ll need to steer clear of certain foods that could dislodge a bracket or break your archwire. Our team at Oceanside Orthodontics recommends avoiding hard and crunchy foods like popcorn, sticky candies like caramel, nuts, crusty breads, pretzels, potato chips, etc. If you have a habit of biting your nails, crunching on ice, or chewing on the tip of your pens or pencils, try implementing different distraction techniques to help break them.
If at any point you do experience a broken bracket or archwire, don’t worry! This happens to virtually every patient at some point throughout their treatment. Just call our office as soon as possible so we can get you in to repair it so your treatment doesn’t get set back.
Do traditional braces hurt?
We want you to have realistic expectations for your treatment, so we’re not going to hide the fact that your mouth might be very sore the first week or so that you have your braces. However, this tenderness is only temporary and fades away with time. Additionally, eating soft foods and using orthodontic wax is a great way to curb your discomfort through this adjustment period. Just keep your eyes on the reward at the end!
Can I get traditional braces on just my top or bottom arch?
While only straightening one arch of teeth may seem like the most cost-effective method of taking care of a couple of crooked pearly whites, it’s rarely recommended. This is because adjusting just one of your arches could leave your overall bite unbalanced and potentially cause more harm than good. However, we realize that every case is unique, so once our team has had a chance to examine your smile in greater detail, we’ll be happy to explain why we recommend straightening either one or two arches at a time.
Do traditional braces cost more than Invisalign?
In many cases, the cost of traditional braces in Fort Lauderdale is similar to the cost of Invisalign. However, in cases where patients are looking to correct more severe crowding or bite problems, it’s likely that the length of treatment with Invisalign will be much longer than traditional braces. During your initial evaluation, we’ll explain to you why we recommend traditional braces over clear aligners, if that’s the case, and outline each cost for you. In some situations, the overall efficiency and effectiveness of metal braces may lead this treatment option to be less costly than Invisalign.